Showing papers by "G. R. Dodagoudar published in 2012"

Seismic Hazard Analysis Using the Adaptive Kernel Density Estimation Technique for Chennai City

Abstract: Conventional method of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) using the Cornell–McGuire approach requires identification of homogeneous source zones as the first step. This criterion brings along many issues and, hence, several alternative methods to hazard estimation have come up in the last few years. Methods such as zoneless or zone-free methods, modelling of earth’s crust using numerical methods with finite element analysis, have been proposed. Delineating a homogeneous source zone in regions of distributed seismicity and/or diffused seismicity is rather a difficult task. In this study, the zone-free method using the adaptive kernel technique to hazard estimation is explored for regions having distributed and diffused seismicity. Chennai city is in such a region with low to moderate seismicity so it has been used as a case study. The adaptive kernel technique is statistically superior to the fixed kernel technique primarily because the bandwidth of the kernel is varied spatially depending on the clustering or sparseness of the epicentres. Although the fixed kernel technique has proven to work well in general density estimation cases, it fails to perform in the case of multimodal and long tail distributions. In such situations, the adaptive kernel technique serves the purpose and is more relevant in earthquake engineering as the activity rate probability density surface is multimodal in nature. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) obtained from all the three approaches (i.e., the Cornell–McGuire approach, fixed kernel and adaptive kernel techniques) for 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years is around 0.087 g. The uniform hazard spectra (UHS) are also provided for different structural periods.

Modulus reduction and damping curves for sand of south-east coast of india

Abstract: Adequate information on dynamic soil properties, especially strain dependent shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (ξ) for each soil layer are the essential input data for seismic ground response analysis and soil-structure interaction studies. In the present study, the shear modulus and damping ratio of sand are estimated for a wide range of strains based on undrained strain-controlled cyclic triaxial tests. The bender elements are also utilized in the cyclic triaxial test to estimate the low strain shear modulus. For this purpose, the soil samples are taken from a nuclear power plant site located at the south-east coastal region of India. Based on the experimental results, an empirical expression is developed to calculate the maximum shear modulus, Gmax as function of void ratio and effective confining stress. Predictive relationships are also developed for estimating normalized shear modulus and damping ratio curves for the sand. The predictive relationships are based on the hyperbolic model and cyclic triaxial test results. The developed modulus reduction and damping ratio curves from the predictive relationships are compared with the previously available curves in the literature.

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis using kernel density estimation technique for Chennai, India

Abstract: Delineation of the seismic area source zone is an important step in seismic hazard analysis which is carried out mainly on the basis of geographical, geological and/or seismotectonic characteristics of the region. Hence it requires knowledge or involvement of the experts from these fields, and yet the zonation suffers from subjectivity. This is especially true in the case of distributed seismicity where a correlation between geological features and earthquakes does not exist. One of the alternatives to the conventional method of area zoning in such cases is the zone-free approach. One of the zone-free approaches is the kernel technique of hazard estimation wherein the seismicity of a region, defined in terms of the Gutenberg–Richter (G–R) recurrence law, is replaced by a spatially smoothened activity rate probability density function. Chennai city lies in a low to moderate seismicity region and there are no major faults causing earthquakes in this region. The kernel method is used in estimating the probab...

Seismic soil–foundation–structure interaction analysis of deeply embedded ventilation stack

Abstract: In this paper, the seismic response analysis of deeply embedded ventilation stack is addressed by considering the effects of soil–foundation–structure interaction (SFSI). Seismic SFSI analysis of the stack subjected to a site-specific design ground motion is carried out using finite element method. A parametric sensitivity analysis is made to investigate the effect of embedment and shear wave velocity ratio of the subsurface profile on the seismic response of the stack. The first series of the SFSI analysis is carried out for the stack with surface footing using computer program SASSI 2000. The second set of analysis incorporates the effect of embedment on the seismic response of the stack. The flexible volume substructure method is used to analyze the seismic SFSI effects. It has been found that the seismic response at the various levels of the stack shows a strong dependence on stiffness of the subsurface profile and the depth of embedment. The spectral acceleration and relative displacement at the top ...